Analysis of the molecular basis of neural stem cell maintenance and its role in cognitive function

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26870683
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Neurochemistry/Neuropharmacology; Experimental pathology
• Research Institution: Chiba University (2016); The University of Tokyo (2014-2015)
• Principal Investigator: OUCHI YASUO 千葉大学, 大学院医学研究院, 特任助教 (70553858)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 幹細胞学 / 認知機能形成 / 成体神経新生

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Recently, the role of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in cognitive function has attracted a lot of attention.　In this study, to elucidate the molecular mechanism of the maintenance of adult neural stem cells and its role in cognitive function and development of schizophrenia, we focused on epigenetic regulation and analyzed the　 genome-wide DNA methylation profile of Dgcr8(+/-) mouse model of 22q11.2 deletion-associated schizophrenia. From this result, consistent with downregulation of IGF2 gene expression, we found that the DNA methylation status of the regulatory region of IGF2 gene, which is an important autocrine growth factor for hippocampal neural stem cells is altered in the Dgcr8(+/-) mice compared with control wild-type mice. These findings suggest that the role of an epigenetic regulatory mechanism of neural stem cells in cognitive function and in the development of schizophrenia.

Free Research Field

幹細胞学、分子生物学